" I QUITE agree with you , Lord Sands , that love is a myth , while marriage is a delusion , and only friendship can give any lasting pleasure or comfort .sx " And Lydia Frith clenched her pretty hands and her clear gray eyes flashed defiantly , as though challenging a reply .sx For some minutes none was forthcoming ; then her companion answered gravely ''You have taken my words too literally , I fear , and I was speaking beyond my knowledge .sx What does a mere looker-on know of the divine passion ?sx It comes before one's eyes in so many phases that one is dazzled by the frequent changes , and puzzled beyond expression to find the key to this ever-recurring enigma .sx But as to marriage well , that is a social necessity .sx " " Yes , yes , I know , " assented the young girl , " and that is what makes me so bitter against it all .sx The age of idolatrous fanaticism is past , and I have no desire to throw myself down before this matrimonial car of Juggernaut .sx Why should I be the victim of this terrible Moloch of society ?sx It is too , too , bad !sx " she added , indignantly .sx " At least we shall be companions in misfortune , " he returned , smiling .sx " I , too , am marked for destruction , I suppose , being the unfortunate possessor of the traditional ten thousand a year , an estate in Suffolk , a house in London , and a shooting-box in Scotland .sx " Lydia laughed merrily .sx " I have worse , far worse than even all that I have six sisters in the school-room , and the two eldest are dying to come out .sx People may try to coax you to marry , but you are your own master ; as for me , it is my destiny .sx What else can I do ?sx 'I cannot work , and to beg I am ashamed .sx ' " .sx She stopped short with quivering lip and troubled eyes .sx " Lord Sands , you must think me very , very foolish to speak like this to you .sx " " I think you are very at least , never mind what I think but , Lydia Frith , I wish you would let me be your friend .sx As far as any man can help any woman , let me help you .sx You do not know what an interest I take in your welfare let me be your friend .sx " He broke off hurriedly , and moved nearer to her , holding out his hand with a questioning gesture ; but she made no reply her eyes were gazing vacantly at the dark gray sky with its myriads of bright stars , and the moon shone down and her beams lingered caressingly on her upturned face and waving wealth of light brown hair .sx Beneath the terrace on which they stood a wide velvety lawn swept downwards to the river , that murmured over the resisting stones with a pleasant , soothing music , while the brilliant flower-beds were of one common silvery tint , glistening fitfully in the moonlight .sx Something of the bewitching magic of the hour fell over the young man as he stood waiting with outstretched hand ; the picture seemed stamped on his brain the old ivy-covered stone terrace , the rustling of the dark , shadowy pine-trees , the sound .sx of music , and the gleaming lights within , and by his side a slight , graceful figure , with slender white fingers clasping the gray trellis-work , and an eager , abstracted , expression on her pale sweet face .sx " So you will not be friends ?sx " he whispered .sx " Friends !sx Of course we are " .sx she answered , quickly , arousing herself from the thoughts that had absorbed her , and laving her cool hands in his for one moment .sx " And now let us go in ; they .sx are playing my favourite fox-trot , and I am to dance it with Jack .sx Ah , here he comes !sx " .sx A tall fair youth , with small , clear-cut features , joined them as she spoke .sx " Well , my little sister , and how goes it with you ?sx " he cried , gaily , laying his hand affectionately on her shoulder .sx " Fancy deserting one's first dance to gaze at a moon and river that , in all probability , will be here to-morrow , next week , and throughout the term of your natural life !sx " " So you count my juvenile dissipations as nothing ?sx " she returned , roguishly .sx " But do you know , if my former partners were smaller , I am not at all sure that they were not more amusing !sx And I would rather dance with you , Jack , than any one in the world .sx " " Go and hide your diminished head , Sands you have evidently not put forth your full powers of attraction ; while , as for you , my senseless sister , come and let me gratify your absurdly bad taste ; " and , placing his arm around her waist , he drew her in with him , and the next moment .sx they were dancing to the well-marked time of a famous band .sx But Lord Sands did not follow them .sx He stood for some time after they had left lost in thought , and when he went , it was not through the ball-room , but , without apology or farewell , he strode across the park with a quick step and a strange expression in his dark hazel eyes .sx Lydia Frith was the eldest daughter of an Essex Baronet of good old family , who possessed two fine , entailed estates , which , while giving him much power and prestige in the county , yet added very little to his real personal comfort , they being unfortunately mortgaged to a very considerable extent ; and , as he had very little ready money on which to keep up his position , it may be judged with what dismay he saw his seven daughters growing up around him clamouring to be fed , clothed , and educated .sx " If one could only marry them all offhand in the good old foreign fashion !sx " he would say sometimes , with a merry twinkle in his eye .sx But his wife would answer , stiffly " You need not be afraid of my daughters not marrying , or not marrying well , " she said , " they have been well brought up under my own superintendence , and they will not disgrace me .sx " " Tut , tut , madam , " he would reply , angrily ; " I don't want to get rid of my daughters until they wish to leave .sx They sha'n't be turned out of their old home .sx " .sx But Lady Frith would purse her lips and toss her head , as though to say that that was her affair , and that what she undertook to manage she would carry out .sx And now Lydia was eighteen , and so lovely and winning that her mother's .sx whole time was taken up in scheming for her advancement in life ; nothing was held too costly , nothing too extravagant that could in the smallest degree heighten her daughter's beauty .sx " She ought to marry a duke , " she said one day , to her husband .sx " Nonsense , Letty !sx Let the girl marry a true , honest man , that she can love , and I shall be satisfied , " was his retort , and he dismissed the subject .sx And Lydia , with flushed cheeks , would declare that she did not wish to marry any one , to leave home and Jack , and would strive to avoid wearing the handsome dresses that she felt were utterly unsuitable to her age and position .sx " I ant not a princess , " she said once , rather petulantly ; but Lady Frith only shook her head wisely , thinking that even this might be quite " on the cards .sx " Since her first dance Lydia had had several admirers , who had haunted the places where she was to be seen , and who had bored her infinitely with their absurd flattery and exaggerated compliments .sx From these she would turn with relief to Lord Sands , who never wearied her in this fashion , but strove to interest her by discussions on art and poetry , and all that is sweet and wonderful to the mind of a very young girl .sx " You are almost as nice as Jack , " she would say , frankly " you always know what I want and when I want it .sx " " I am your friend , " was the invariable reply , " and friendship has its pleasant duties .sx You know I have never had a sister , and you come in the place of what I have missed in that respect .sx " But at last there came a crisis .sx One of her unwelcome admirers declared his intentions , and offered himself and his very splendid income for the acceptance of the object of his affections ; and there was a very stormy scene , when Lydia positively refused to see him again , or to give him the least hope .sx For several days Lady Frith would neither speak voluntarily , nor answer her daughter when addressed , and at last Lydia sought her friend in despair .sx " What am I to do , Lord Sands ?sx " she cried , appealingly , as having told him of the whole affair , she turned away , and bent over a bowl of flowers that stood on her work-table .sx He laid his hand for a moment caressingly on her hair .sx " Poor little child , I scarcely know what to say ; but you were quite right be assured of that .sx " " Yes , I know , but in the meantime I am very unhappy , and mother's being vexed and miserable makes it worse and all about that one stupid man !sx " " Do not trouble , it will all come right in time ; these things will happen , and the poor fellow could not help loving you .sx I wonder how it is that women always despise a man who loves them , without having awakened a corresponding feeling ?sx " " A man ought to know when he is not liked , and ought to take a refusal quietly , " answered Lydia severely .sx " I have a plan , " he said , a few minutes .sx and tell you what I thought , and you must decide for yourself whether it be practicable or no .sx Only take care ; there is such a thing as escaping Scylla and being engulfed in Charybdis .sx " And then Sir John came in , and stood talking to them , and soon afterwards Lord Sands took his leave .sx But the same evening the postman came up with a letter from him for Lydia .sx She quietly put it into her pocket , and made no comment thereon ; but at about twelve o'clock that night , the door of the smoking-room , where Jack was sitting reading alone , was pushed a little open , and a cautiously lowered voice begged for admittance .sx " Come in , little one !sx " cried Jack , cheerily , and Lydia entered , holding the letter in her hand , and looking very disturbed .sx " May I come and talk to you a little , Jack ?sx " she asked , doubtfully .sx " Why , of course you may ; it is like old times , your coming to have a chat .sx You are getting proud , I suppose .sx Your head is turned with your numerous conquests , and a quiet confab with one's brother is tame work after all that sort of thing .sx " " Nonsense , dear ; I am always so tired , " she answered , apologetically , sinking down into the comfortable chair that Jack had drawn forward for her .sx " But I want your advice now .sx Please read this , and tell me what you think of it ; " and she held out the letter to him .sx This is what it contained " My dear Lydia I am going to make a very strange proposition ; and , before making it , I wish you to promise that , whether you accept it or not , our friendship shall remain intact .sx Do you remember our conversation at your first dance , when we both agreed that marriage was a necessity , and that love was far surpassed by his elder and more sober brother friendship ?sx My opinion is unaltered , and this is my proposition .sx Will you take my name and be my wife in the eyes of the world , but in reality my very dear sister my friend ?sx If I were older , I would adopt you , as that would be less binding to you ; but , of course , as it is , that is quite out of the question .sx If you decide to come to me , you need fear no unwelcome tenderness on my part , and you need have no more of my society than is agreeable ; you have your brother and your six sisters , and could always invite your own guests .sx Think well of all this before you answer .sx I shall not alter .sx If I could have loved any one , it would have been you .sx But I will not deceive you ; my feeling is that of a father for his daughter a calm , protective .sx affection that I swear shall never alter .sx